Spark plug



Patented Apr. 17,r 1923.

j ,j ETE 1 retener-r u. ortica.

oHiilIs'rY a; Pnorsr, or Lonevrnwnxas.

SPARK Prue.`

` Application fil-ed February 18, 1921. Serial No. 446,105,

To aZZ whom` t may-concern Be it known that I, CHRISTY A. Pnorsr, acitizen of the United States, residing at Longview, inthe county ofGregg and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful.

j aV spark plug in whichy the electrodes may `be readily cleaned Withoutremoving the` spark plug from its position on the motor.

A further object is' to provide means for adjusting one ofthe electrodeswhereby it is spaced pro-perly with relation tothe other electrodes inorder to produce a spark gap of the right length.

In carrying out the invention a spark plug is provided with an off-setelectrode over which a vertical electrode is arranged at one side of theplug, a gauge is provided so that by adjusting the parts toy a certaindegree o-n the gauge, the electrodes are properly spaced. Vxhen thevertical electrode is' removed a vertical passage is provided thru whicha cleaning brush` may be inserted for cleaning the angularly disposedelectrodes as is obvious.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed to gether with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing speciiication and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a spark plug constructed in accordancewith my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view,

Fig. 3 is an underside view of the parts shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a detail of the gauge, and

Fig. 5 is a View of the cleaning brush.

In the drawings thenumeral 10 designates a metallic plugmember or barrelwhich has its lower portion reduced and externallyscrew threaded and isprovided with an annular overhanging shoulder 11 surmounted by anannular outwardly projecting flange 12 having angular faces for thereception of a suitable wrench. The plug member is provided with avertical bore 13 disposed eccentrically and enlarged at its lower end toprovide an internal shoulder 14. An insulating core 15 formed ofporcelain or other suitable material has an annular collar 16 at itslower end engaging the shoulder 14 and fitting withinthe bore 13. ininclined boss 17 depends froml the lower end of the core.

IFor holding the core in the plug a pair of screws 18y are threaded intothe bottom of the plug and support washers 19 which overlap onto thecore and support the same as is best shown in Fig. 3. The core isreduced at its upperend and shoulderedwithin `the bore 13 to receive apacking gasket 20 which in turn receives a packing nut 21 threaded intothe bore and snugly surrounding the core. In. this way the'core issnugly and `tightly held in the plug member and is leak p-roof. K

A central electrode 22 is embedded in the core 15 and has its upper endprojecting and receiving a nut 23 to which the ignition wire (not shown)may be attached in the usual manner. The lower end of the electrode isbent and directed laterally thru the boss 17 to provide an annularextension 24 projecting from the lower end of said boss. At one side theplug 10 is provided with a vertical cylindrical opening 25 which alsoextends thru a boss 26 on top of the plug 10. The opening 25 is locatedover the end of the extension 24.

The upper end of the boss 26 is reduced and screw threaded to receive acap 27 in which the upper end of an electrode 28 is securely fastened.The electrode 28 lfit-s snugly in the opening 25 and has its lower endsuspended over the extension 24. A gage in the form of an angular flatspring member 29 is secured to the top of the plug by means of a screw30. The upright portion of the member is provided with a central rib 31adapted to engage vertical serrations on the cap 27. The member isprovided with graduations 32 with which the top of the cap 27 is adaptedto register. It will be seen that the rib 31 engaging in the serrationsof the cap will tend to hold said cap in position and by rotating saidcap it will be raisedor lowered, thus elevating or lowering theelectrode 28 and determining the length of the gap between its lower endand the eX tension 24 of the electrode 22. By bringing the top of thecap 27 into registration with a particular graduation 32 the electrodewill be properly spaced as is obvious.

In order to clean the electrodes the cap is unscrewed so as to removethe electrode 28,

` whereby the opening 25 is exposed. A suit able brush as a wire brush,such as is shown at 33 in F ig. 5, is inserted in the opening 25 andpassed downwardly so as to engage the extension 24, which may be rapidlycleaned by a few strokes of the brush as is obvious. 'Ihe electrode 28having been removed may be easily cleaned and replaced.

The particular advantage had by this invention resides in the fact thatthe electrodes may be cleaned without removing the spark plugordisconnecting the ignition-wires, and further the work may be doneexpeditiously. However, it isf essential that means `be provided forspacing the electrodes when the ,\electrode 28 is replaced. For thisreason the gauge member 29 mor an equivalent means, is necessary inconnection with the cleaning feature. It is obvious that by properlyspacing `and arranging the graduations 82, the electrode 28 may beadjusted to a minute degree. The electrode 28 Will, of course, begrounded in the plug 10.

What I claim, is:

1. In a cleanable spark plug, the combina tion vof a barrel, aninsulating member eccentrically mounted inthe barrel, a statione aryelectrode embedded in the member and having its lower end projectingfrom said member and exposed, and a removable electrode eccentricallymounted in the barrel and overhanging the projecting end of thestationary electrode, an adjusting device connected with the removableelectrode and mounted on top of the barrel, and an adjusting gaugecop-operating with the adjusting means.

2. In a cleanable spark plug, the combination of a barrel, an insulatingmember eccentrically mounted in the barrel and having a boss projectingbelow the same, a stationary electrode .mounted in the member and havingits lower end bent and extending from the boss, the barrel having avertical opening over the extension ofthe stationary electrode, aremovable vertical j electrode mounted in said opening, a cap attachedto theupper end of the removable electrode, a screw vthreaded projectionengaged by the cap, and a spring-retaining gauge provided withgraduations and engaging said cap.

CHRISTY A. PROPST.

